Sykesville man to serve four years in theft of $2,600 from Beanie Baby orders over Net

July 25, 1999|By Sheridan Lyons | Sheridan Lyons,SUN STAFF

A 28-year-old Sykesville man pleaded guilty Friday in Carroll County Circuit Court in a scheme to steal about $2,600 from people who ordered Beanie Babies from him on the Internet last year -- keeping their money without supplying the popular stuffed toys.

Glen Howard Brown of the 5900 block of Dale Court acknowledged stealing amounts ranging from $125 to $400 from 13 families between Feb. 2 and May 1 by posting an advertisement with his computer. Fourteen charges were dropped in return for his guilty plea.

After he failed to appear for his trial in March, Brown was arrested in Baltimore County -- where he received a four-year prison term in the violation of his parole there on arson and forgery convictions.

Carroll Circuit Judge Raymond E. Beck sentenced Brown on Friday on his guilty plea in the Beanie Baby scheme and in two probation violations in Carroll County. As part of the plea agreement, Brown will serve four years of an eight-year sentence; the sentence will run at the same time as the Baltimore County term that began June 4.

Brown can seek sentence modification if his mother succeeds in paying restitution of $2,642.15, said defense attorney Ruth M. DeCoursey.

Although none of the victims was in court, Brown said, "I'm sorry for the people I scammed, and hopefully they'll be able to trust other people." Of his probation violation, he told Beck, "I'm sorry for letting you down."

Beck reminded Brown that, although his mother will pay $200 a month in restitution, "It's your obligation -- not hers." Brown asked, "If and when I get a job at the Maryland Correctional Training Center, can money be sent? It's not much, but "